If one were making a pork belly confit, and happened to fall a bit short of rendered fat, would clarified butter be a reasonable substitute to top off with?

thanks

]]>By: luishttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38940
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38940allright guys lets just all agree this is not one of Rulhmans best topics and move on…or rather maybe he will move on to something really great!. Like stir frying local fish and veggies in a cast iron wok?
From the books I have been reading up on this subject I am amazed at the veggie combinations.
There should be rules I think! but I am far from sure as to what these rules are based on???
I have it on very very good authority that I need to get a rice cooker if I mean to cook kick ass japanese stir fry dishes.
Me, I am still zperimenting with the damm pressure cooker.
]]>By: Bob delGrossohttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38941
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38941I respectfully disagree with Mr. Cruz’s definition of “shoemaker” and your endorsement of it.
The word “shoemaker” is not so context bound and can be used to describe not only how someone is behaving at one moment in time, but as a general assessment of their lack of talent.

So sometimes during the heat of service someone might behave like a shoemaker, while the dolt who can’t boil water is always a shoemaker.

I’ve also seen this term applied to people outside of the cooking world who are not very good at their chosen profession.

]]>By: Kate in the NWhttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38938
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38938You people are punny.
I have a sudden craving for sole…or maybe tongue.
(you see, I’m not too straight-laced to make a joke…)
On with the shoe!
PS – how long with this last?
]]>By: Steven Moreheadhttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38935
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38935Talk about offensive language!!!! Where I come from if you can sling hash that probably means given the right coaching and experience you can probably hang with the big dogs. That and your willingness to accept that slinging hash is not the worlds most glorious culinary incarnation. So slinging hash doesn’t make you cool being receptive to the people that are trying to teach you the ways of the culinary gods does.
]]>By: Natalie Szternhttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38936
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38936If that Chef, in John’s story had any sense he should have had the shoemaker stitch up his hand….lol
]]>By: Natalie Szternhttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38937
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38937…..but as the saying goes for the shoemaker…the road to hell was paved with good intentions….and don’t wear Manolo Blahniks in the kitchen!!
]]>By: BenMhttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38934
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38934It’s funny, I’ve heard that term bandied about for years and had no idea they used it in the kitchen! In stone masonry, which is my craft, calling someone’s work “a shoemaker’s job” means that they either don’t know what they are doing or they don’t have the ability. “Shoddy” workmanship also invokes the shoemaker, dosen’t it? The poor bastards don’t get a break!
]]>By: John Mitzewichhttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38931
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38931That’s terrible! Didn’t you feel like a heel?
]]>By: kananihttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38932
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38932What do people in the shoe industry call their slackers?
I’ve had shoes custom-made. Once, there was this particularly annoying pair that required multiple fittings. The things had to be taken apart and remade several times. When I finally got them, the freakin’ heel fell off the third time I wore them.
I remember calling my cobbler a “hobbler.”
However, I was fortunate that he never cooked for me.

And lucky you, Michael, for being up in Napa. Great place, great produce, meats, cheeses, wines, scenery… great everything. Make sure you stop in at Cowgirl Creamery.

Ah, almost forgot. When you get back to Napa, go make the pilgrimmage and visit Chester Aaron. Professor of creative writing, author, grower of 100 types of garlic, writer of tomes on it as well. You’d love him. Say happy birthday to him, I think he’s 86.

]]>By: Rochellehttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38930
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38930I almost went on a date once with a restaurant line cook named Shoemaker, but I just couldn’t get my brain around it. True story.
]]>By: Pookhahttp://ruhlman.com/2008/05/elements-of-coo/comment-page-1/#comment-38929
Tue, 30 Nov 1999 06:00:00 +0000http://ruhlman.com/newblog/2008/05/elements-of-coo.html#comment-38929Funny how the footwear industry bears the brunt of epithets.

There was a famous science fiction author who, when an editor published what the author considered a second-class story (after the editor had gotten done ‘editing’) would insist the magazine used the pen-name “Cordwainer Bird”, i.e. someone who makes shoes for birds.